So this is the post where I talk about my recent hospital stay, about brushing up against death, and about whether or not I cried out to God at the last moment… I’m guessing we’ve all heard the repeatedly overstated “There’s No Atheists in Foxholes” argument. The claim of course being that in war, every soldier turns […]

Well, I apologize for the lack of posts lately. But it sure has been an interesting couple weeks. At this point two Fridays ago, I was on my way to the emergency room with a severe bacterial infection. The doctors would later tell me that if I had waited until Saturday to come in, they might not have […]

Remember Vacation Bible School?Otherwise known simply as VBS? It’s that time-honored tradition that nearly every church in American seems to perform each year while students all across the country are on Summer Vacation from their public school systems. You’d be invited by the local church on your block to run up the street every day […]

So my life is pretty crazy right now. But honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. I mean, maybe eventually I would… Come to think of it, a nice beach vacation actually sounds pretty wonderful right now… Maybe in the Caribbean… I’ve actually only been out of the US once, and it was for a […]

Wednesday afternoon, I locked the door to my Uptown apartment, and slid down the elevator on my way to a quick shift at the steakhouse. On my way out the front door, I stopped to check my mailbox, and that’s the moment I saw it. Right there waiting for me in my little mail slot […]

So the book is advancing rather well. For various reasons that I won’t bother expounding upon, I had set the editing of my second draft on hold for a good several months. And then, after finally picking it up again at the turn of the new year, I finally finished the revision last week. But as […]

If you’re like me, you might be great at things like balancing your checkbook and creating a budget to (mostly) stick to. All while the coded world of financial investments seems completely foreign in its extraterrestrialness. Then you’ve got the elusive art of actually making money off financial investments, and it just seems like a completely […]

A group of seminary students recently completed a project on how to effectively counsel an atheist. They are studying in a Masters program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Chicago’s Moody Theological Seminary, and yep, that’s the very same school that I had attended. And one of the students working on this group project had grown […]

So what was your weekend’s Oscar-winning moment? In other words, what was the funniest or the most adventurous or most inspiring or outrageous moment of your weekend? Or, to put it yet another way, if your life was a movie, would people pay money to see it? Would there be anything worth watching? And if not, why? […]

I’m thankful this week that atheism in America is becoming less taboo and beginning to sound a little less scary. And I’m also thankful this week for a particular sixth grade teacher who was willing to speak honestly and openly about it.* It was just a few days ago—so I’m told—during a new social studies segment on […]

Yes, a full third of the American population self-identifies as evangelical or ‘born again’ Christian, by far the largest religious group in America. But nearly one half of their neighbors subscribe to another Christian tradition, be it Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Mormon, or mainline protestant, etc. All told that’s 8 in 10 Americans who are Christian […]

I am rejoicing right now in a grand appreciation for logic and wit. And it all began as I stumbled upon a video placed on my Facebook newsfeed. Given my fond affection for The West Wing and the good reputation my friend has for sharing great content, I pushed play and sat with eager anticipation. By the end of […]

Just returned last night from three days at our company’s home office in the Dallas suburb of Addison, Texas. I suppose the meetings looked much like what you would find at any corporate gathering. Celebrating victories and inspiring new ones, increasing location alignment and sharpening brand awareness, equipping and empowering the team, sumptuous dinners and strong […]

“But Daddy, what about Satan…” THINKING THIS MORNING of a conversation I had with my eldest when she was only seven years old. This is the one who was crushed when Hillary Clinton had lost the 2008 primaries and then predicted that at least we’d have another shot next time.* But I’m thinking this morning of a conversation from […]

You’re likely to have seen a banner such as this flying boldly over certain corners of the Social Media Universe: “I’ve studied the Bible. And that’s why I’m an atheist.” And sure enough, my own experience has proven this fascinating little claim over again and again, and from many angles. But just one of […]

Gathered around Table 9 while on break at the steakhouse, the question was posed yesterday: “Alright guys, so what are your new year’s resolutions?” As conversation made its way around the table, I saved mine for last while expeditiously searching for what it might be. I don’t have a long list of habits to break. And the goals I […]

Watched It’s a Wonderful Life this afternoon. Unlike your typical American, this was only the second time I’d seen the film, with the first being just five years or so ago. So no, for me this isn’t the annual Christmas tradition that it is for other people. Was more of a spontaneous indulgence instead. Most likely you’re not aware. […]

It’s true. I’m an atheist. And kind of an outspoken one. And yet: I still love Christmas. But how is this possible? you might ask. Honestly, sometimes I feel the dead-cold stare of other atheists looking me down in dismay: Doesn’t this guy know he’s not supposed to do that anymore??? So I’d been planning to go ahead and write […]

Something fun. And yet serious all at the same time. But for today, just gonna stick to the fun side… I’m on a billboard! It’s part of the Freedom From Religion Foundation‘s new “Out of the Closet” campaign to normalize atheism, an effort to help people see that atheists are normal everyday individuals. Not scary, not evil, […]

I may be an atheist. But at least I’m a biblical one. According to the breed of Christian faith that I once held to, it is a dangerous thing to rely on personal experience. You see, all that stuff, feelings, emotions, observations witnessed via the five senses, even the logic used by our minds to […]